a social

problem
By: Camila Padilla

Electronic media provides people a new

environment to misuse technology and
anonymously bully others, anywhere, and at all
times.
-Edwina Thomas Washington

What Is Cyberbullying?
Bully reaches victim
online
Proliferation of physical
to verbal and psychological abuse
Illegal

Digital repeated intimidation

Digital
harassment
Sometimes anonymous

CYBERBULLYING IS A SOCIAL PROBLEM!

Inappropriate photos or videos

of someone else
Causes anxiety, depression,
physical harm, suicide...

Harmful, cruel, or false

text messages

Occurs in elementary, middle and

high school, colleges/universities,
and in the workplace
Occurs anywhere in the
world

Bullying vs.
Cyberbullying
Face-to-face
Can find a safe place or
escape
Limited to onlookers
Bully can be identified
Can see facial and body

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365

days/year
No safe place - hard to escape
Shared by a wide audience - can go
viral in a matter of seconds
Can be anonymous

reaction of target and

Harder to empathize with the target

onlookers

No geographical limitations

8 Different Forms of
Cyberbullying
Cyberstalk
ing
Denigrati
on
Outin
g

Tricker
y

Harassme
nt

Impersonatio
n
Flaming
Exclusio
n

How does cyberbullying

violate the nine norms of
digital citizenship?
Intimidation inhibits the victim from free access
Prevents the victim from communicating and
collaborating with other digital users
Technology is used inappropriately to harm
others
Unethical use is manifested through the invasion
of the victims personal property
Venting personal information of the victim is
considered as a violation of the persons
unalienable rights
Physical and psychological wellness of the victim
is threatened
Victims digital security is endangered

Technology =
additional
mechanism to
reach victims

43% of teens are cyberbullied annually

...only 10% report the abuse to their parents

Cyberbullying is more devastating than

traditional bullying because the harmful
or false information shared online can be
communicated to a wider audience.
-Edwina Washington

Source: TRU Insights &

McAfee, May 2012

Cyberbullying and Schools

K-12 schools only address on-campus
cyberbullying policies-off-campus
incidents are up to the parents
Higher education institutions do not often
have established cyberbullying policies
Federal laws DO NOT directly address
cyberbullying, but make ILLEGAL
commerce communications that include
threats to another person

Recommendations for School

Administrators
Recommended prevention-intervention strategies:
1. Stricter policies enacted in school systems
2. Lessons on cyberbullying for students,
parents, and teachers.
3. Establish cyberbullying programs to keep
students safe and protected
4. Invite cybercops (local police department)
to speak at the school
5. Create a plan to report and document
cyberbullying

How can parents target

cyberbullying?
1.

Behavior changes. Is his behavior especially concerning while he's using

digital devices?

2.

Slipping grades. If schoolwork is suffering, there could be a problem.

3.

Moodiness. She's only happy when she's texting or on the computer - or she's
only happy when she isn't doing it.

4.

Habitual use. His phone is constantly buzzing and he's using the computer or
texting at all hours.

5.

Secretive or evasive behavior. She won't let you see anything she does online
or on her phone; she switches screens quickly when you walk by.

6.

Multiple accounts. Having several different online profiles for one social
network (each with different user names and email addresses) isn't necessary,
so it could be a red flag.

STOP and THINK before you

CLICK!

Helpful websites on
cyberbullying!
StopBullying.gov
StompOutBullying.org
Cyberbullying.us
TheBullyProject.com

Other resources!
BULLY (Documentary Film)

Cyberbullying (Movie)

References
Collier, A. (2009). A Better Safety Net. School Library Journal, 55(11), 36-38
Miller, J. D., Hufstedler, S. M., & Australian Teacher Education Association, (. (2009). Cyberbullying Knows No Borders. Australian
Teacher Education Association
Mitchell M. Cyberbullying And Academic Achievement: Research Into The Rates Of Incidence, Knowledge Of Consequences, And
behavioral Patterns Of Cyberbullying [e-book]. ProQuest LLC; 2011. Available from: ERIC, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 18,
2015.
Simmons, K. D., & Bynum, Y. P. (2014). Cyberbullying: Six Things Administrators Can Do. Education, 134(4), 452-456
Washington, E. T. (2015). An Overview of Cyberbullying in Higher Education. Adult Learning, 26(1), 21-27.